Did i miss the nitrite spike?

[Trout11B]

I'm cycling a 55 gallon tank and I believe I may have missed the nitrite spike. After looking back on my notes of water parameters I noticed a small number of days of high ammonia readings ( 1 and .5) then back to the consistent .25 or 0. I've checked for nitrites after the first 2 weeks except for 2.5 days when I was out of town. I have not seen a spike in nitrites and am getting 0 for both ammonia and nitrites. I am getting small nitrate reading of 5. But I was told when using the API test kit nitrates may be thrown off if ammonia or nitrites are present leaving a false positive. Is it possible I may have missed the nitrite spike and am done or nearly done with my cycle? It's a fish in cycle FYI, and I am in week 3 and have filter media and substrate from an established tank in there.

 

[Coleallensmom]

It's possible you missed it but it is also possible that you won't get a large nitrite spike. Your cycle might not follow normal course because you seeded the tank with that filter media/substrate from an established tank. My advice would be to keep testing your ammonia and nitrites for another week. If both stay at 0ppm and you are still getting a nitrate reading, then I'd say your tank is finished cycling. How many fish do you have in the tank?

 

[Trout11B]

Ah, that makes sense. I have some minnows, a lake shiner, and a comet in there right now.